Click here to download the Registration Guidelines and Travel Information

About the Symposium and Pre-Symposium

The NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) will once again co-sponsor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Symposium, December 4-6, in Washington, DC. Each year teachers, ESP, UniServ staff, school board members, principals, superintendents and others attend the conference to discuss improving the IAQ in our nation’s schools. The conference centers around EPA's IAQ TfS program which is a nationwide initiative that helps schools assess, resolve, and prevent IAQ problems and reduce exposure to asthma triggers. Innovative workshops will be offered on conducting school walkthroughs, mold remediation, green schools, asthma friendly schools, radon, and more. The 9th annual EPA IAQ TfS Symposium will be held at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

The Symposium will once again be preceded by NEA HIN’s one-day Pre-Symposium training on December 3rd at NEA headquarters. This event (held the day before the EPA IAQ TfS Symposium) will focus on how to organize around the issue of poor IAQ as a local affiliate. Topics such as forming health and safety committees, conducting school walkthroughs, administering health and hazard surveys, building coalitions and how to deal with a difficult or unsupportive administration will be discussed.

In years past, NEA HIN provided funding for teams to attend through a competitive application process but due to budgetary constraints this year only a limited number of slots were available. Because so few slots were available, NEA HIN gave the teams that were turned away last year the opportunity to reapply to attend this year’s conference. Six of the 15 teams that were rejected reapplied and were accepted so we are unable to open up the application process to additional members and staff this year. Even though additional funding is not available this year NEA members and state affiliate staff (teams or individuals) that have secured funding from another source (such as state/local association, school district, or personal funds) may register to attend the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium training and/or the EPA’s IAQ TfS Symposium.

Who Can Attend:

• Individual or teams of NEA members and UniServ staff (or other state affiliate staff) who have secured their own funding may attend the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium and/or EPA IAQ TfS Symposium.
  
  
• Non-NEA individuals (school principals, facilities managers, school board members, superintendents, and other school staff) who have secured their own funding may attend the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium as long as they are attending with an NEA member or staff person.Non-NEA individuals may attend the EPA’s IAQ TfS Symposium (to register go to www.iaqsymposium.com-- they cannot register for the Symposium using the NEA HIN Registration Form).

Approximate Costs to Attend:

The approximate cost for one individual to attend the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium training and EPA IAQ TfS Symposium is $1,891 (5 days and 4 nights–this includes travel days). This assumes the attendee is not sharing a room with another participant and does not require substitute reimbursement. The cost to attend if the attendee is sharing a room is $1,563.

The approximate cost for one individual to attend the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium training ONLY is $1,057 (3 days and 2 nights–this includes travel days). This assumes the attendee is not sharing a room with another participant and does not require substitute reimbursement. The cost to attend if the attendee is sharing a room is $893.

Cost estimates were based on the following:

Registration Process:

This is NOT a competitive application process. Funding is not available for teams to apply competitively this year. You must have your own funding to attend and submit a Registration Form as indicated below.

To register:

NEA members and state affiliate staff:

1. Submit a Registration Form by email to jyoung@nea.org on or before Monday, October 20th
   
   
2. Submit an Attendee Funding Commitment Form by fax (to 202-822-7775) that is signed by the attendee’s “sponsor” (whoever is listed on the Registration Form as the funder) on or before Monday, October 20th

Click here to download a Registration Form
Click here to download an Attendee Funding Commitment Form

Based on the information provided on the Registration Form, NEA HIN will register NEA members and state affiliate staff for the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium and/or the EPA IAQ TfS Symposium AND will make their hotel reservations. NEA HIN will invoice the attendee’s “sponsor” for the Symposium registration fee ($345) and hotel costs (see below) on Wednesday, November 26.

Cancellation Policy:
Attendees who do not notify NEA HIN on or before Monday, November 10 of any cancellation or change in hotel reservations will be responsible for the registration fee and/or hotel costs.

Non-NEA individuals:
NEA HIN will ONLY register non-NEA individuals for the NEA HIN Pre-Symposium training based on the information provided on the NEA HIN Registration Form. Non-NEA individuals must register themselves for the EPA IAQ TfS Symposium by going to www.iaqsymposium.com. They must also make their own airfare/train reservations and hotel accommodations.

The Registration Form and Attendee Funding Commitment Form must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted. These documents have been formatted using the Microsoft Word “Form” feature for your convenience. Instructions on using this feature are as follows:

1. Click on the Registration Form and save the document to your computer.
   
   
2. Once saved to your computer, open the document and begin filling it out by clicking on each gray box. The Microsoft Word Form Feature should allow you to type in each box.
   
   
3. When you are done save the document to your computer and if possible, name the file using your name, state abbreviation, and an indication of what it is. (Example, JohnDoe_VA_Registration.doc)
   
   
4. If you would like a registration packet mailed to you, please contact Jamila Boddie at jboddie@nea.org or 202-822-7768.

Travel Information:

Hotel Accommodations (NEA members and state affiliate staff ONLY):

• NEA HIN will book the attendee’s hotel reservations based on the information provided on the Registration Form and invoice the attendee’s “sponsor” for these costs. Negotiated rates are guaranteed for December 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. If an attendee would like to arrive early and/or stay additional nights or requests any upgrades that the sponsor will not cover, we will have the hotel charge the attendee directly for these nights at check-out.
  
  
  • *If you are a Non-NEA individual you will be responsible making your own hotel accommodations.
    
    
• Attendees will be staying at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The negotiated rates are: $189/night (single room–one queen/king size bed) and $214/night (double room–two queen size beds).The Grand Hyatt Washington is a non-smoking hotel therefore only non-smoking hotel rooms are available.
  
  
  
• When you check into the hotel you will be asked for your personal credit card for any incidentals (parking, movie rentals, hotel parking internet usage, room upgrades, fitness center, etc.) that you may charge to your room. You are responsible for these charges upon check-out.
  
  


• The Grand Hyatt Washington is located in downtown Washington, DC at 1000 H Street, NW. The hotel has direct underground access to the Metro subway and is located at Metro Center. You can visit the hotel website for directions, maps, or other information at www.washington.grand.hyatt.com. You may also call the Grand Hyatt at (202) 582-1234.

Airfare/Train Reservations (NEA members and state affiliate staff ONLY):

• Attendees are responsible for making airline/train reservations. Attendees are welcome to use NEA's travel agent (Garber Travel).You may contact Garber Travel at 1-800-816-8747, Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 8:00 pm (EST). You may also email Garber at arlington@garber.fcm.travel.
  


• Area Airports: Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport are the three major airports in the Washington DC/Metropolitan area. While National Airport is located just across the river from Washington, airfares to BWI and Dulles are often considerably lower than fares to National.
  


• Train Travel: Amtrak rail service is available to Washington, DC from certain locations. Most trains run right to Union Station in Washington, DC.

Ground Transportation to and from the Airport:

• Approximate taxi fares from area airports to downtown Washington are as follows: $20 from Reagan National; $50 from Dulles; $60 from BWI. Economical shuttle service is also available from area airports to downtown Washington.
  
  
• To take the Metro from Reagan National Airport, follow the “Metro” signs at the airport and take the blue line. The Grand Hyatt Washington is located at the Metro Center stop (the stop is located inside the hotel). Metro costs vary depending on whether you travel during rush hour or non-rush hour. NOTE: You may also take the yellow line on the Metro, but you must change trains at Gallery Place-China Town. From there, take the red line (toward Shady Grove) to Metro Center. You can visit www.wmata.com to plan out your exact route.

Transportation from Grand Hyatt to Pre-Symposium Training at NEA Headquarters:

• NEA Headquarters is located at 1201 16th St., NW, in Washington, DC. From the Grand Hyatt you can get to NEA Headquarters by taxi or metro. Taxi fares should run approximately $10 each way. You can also walk but should plan for a 20-25 minute walk.
  
  
• If taking the metro, from the Grand Hyatt, you will board the metro via the Metro Center stop (located at the hotel). Take the orange line (towards Vienna) or the blue line (towards Franconia-Springfield) one stop over to McPherson Square. After exiting the train, take the “White House” exit and walk north on 15th street (three blocks) and turn left onto M street. Continue straight and turn right onto 16th street. NEA (located on the corner of 16th & M street) will be on your right. Metro will take approximately 20-25 minutes.



• If you arrive at NEA Headquarters before 8:00 a.m. enter the building through the M street entrance (if you arrive after 8:00 a.m. enter using the 16th street entrance) and go the guard’s desk. Tell them you are here for the “IAQ Pre-Symposium” and they will direct you to the Auditorium.

Meals and Other Misc. Expenses:

The EPA IAQ TfS Symposium registration fee covers three breakfasts, two lunches, breaks and hors d’oeuvres at the EPA awards ceremony on 12/4. NEA HIN will provide beverages all day and hors d’oeuvres at the evening reception on 12/3.

Meals Provided:

You will also be responsible for paying for other miscellaneous travel expenses such as meals not provided, taxis, tips, etc., up front.

Attire/Weather:

• Business casual attire is encouraged for all four days including the NEA HIN Welcome Reception on 12/3 and the EPA Awards Ceremony on 12/4.
  


• To check out the weather forecast go to www.weather.com and put in the zip code “20036”.

Important Dates to Remember:

Monday, October 20:
Registration Forms Due–last day to register! (email to jyoung@nea.org)
Attendee Funding Commitment Forms Due (fax to 202-822-7775)

Monday, November 10:
Last Day to Cancel Registration or Cancel/Change Hotel Reservations

Wednesday, November 26:
NEA HIN will Invoice Attendee’s Sponsor

Tuesday, December 2:
Attendees Arrive in Washington, DC

Wednesday, December 3:
NEA HIN Pre-Symposium Training (8:30a.m.-5p.m.) & Welcome Reception (5-7p.m) ~ at NEA Headquarters

Thursday, December 4:
EPA IAQ TfS Symposium and EPA Awards Ceremony ~ at Grand Hyatt Washington

Friday, December 5:
EPA IAQ TfS Symposium, cont. ~ at Grand Hyatt Washington

Saturday, December 6:
EPA IAQ TfS Symposium, cont. ~ at Grand Hyatt Washington & Attendees Depart Washington, DC~ Symposium adjourns at noon

*For a detailed EPA IAQ TfS Symposium agenda go to www.iaqsymposium.com.

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